### AirPods Assist in Locating Stolen Purse in Italy
Karis McElroy narrated an incredible incident on TikTok regarding how her mother and stepfather became victims of pickpocketing during their visit to Venice, Italy. The couple found themselves surrounded by three individuals on the street, and when they returned to their Airbnb, McElroy’s mother found her backpack had been unzipped. Inside the bag were missing her water bottle, wallet, and purse, which held her passport, credit cards, and cash.
Luckily, her AirPods were also in the bag. In a desperate effort to retrieve the stolen belongings, McElroy’s mother and stepfather activated the ‘Find My Friends’ feature to trace the AirPods’ location. This led them back to the three potential thieves.
While they awaited the arrival of the police, McElroy’s mother confronted the group. Although one suspect escaped with the purse, it was later discarded. With help from law enforcement in both Italy and the United States, the stolen belongings were ultimately returned to an airport liaison office before being reunited with their rightful owner.
### How AirPods Integrate with the Find My Network
Although AirTags are specifically engineered for tracking items, a number of Apple products, including certain AirPods models, can offer similar capabilities via the Find My network. Supported AirPods can emit a Bluetooth signal that nearby Apple devices pick up, sending the location back to the owner’s Find My app. This enables users to track their AirPods even when they aren’t actively connected to an iPhone or iPad.
When the Find My network is enabled, supported AirPods can show up in the Find My app for as long as 24 hours after they were last paired with a device, even if they are out of range. This feature is available for AirPods 3, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, all AirPods Pro versions, and AirPods Max.
While AirPods can aid in recovering misplaced items, AirTags remain the most dependable choice for tracking. Unlike AirPods, AirTags are specifically tailored for this task, featuring a user-replaceable battery, a built-in speaker for locating them, and ultra-wideband precision tracking on compatible iPhones. Moreover, AirTags remain visible in the Find My app for a longer period than the 24-hour timeframe provided by AirPods. However, in cases of a misplaced bag, AirPods can serve as a useful resource, particularly within the initial 24-hour window.
